Hardesty G. Maratta
American painter and color theorist, 1864–1924
Person TypeIndividual
Terms
American marine painter, illustrator, and teacher, 1875–1956
Hardesty G. Maratta
BiographyBest known for the color theory he developed and promoted in the early 20th century, Maratta was born in Chicago and studied at the Art Institute there. He was a painter, primarily in watercolor, and designer of TECO pottery. His color system—one of many new approaches to color theory in the early 20th century—aligned colors with musical notes and encouraged artists to work in triads and "chords" of color to achieve harmonious effects. His system was adopted by Robert Henri, John Sloan, and George Bellows, among other American artists.
